Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TR~ '
BA~9~C~ 'I'~b: T~Q~
This invention relates to trigger sprayers of the type which
are mounted on the top of a container. Such sprayers comprise a
trigger-operated pump which pumps liquid, such as a cleaner, up
S through a dip tube out of the container to discharge through an
appropriate orifice. More specifically, this invention relates ,.~
to a trigger sprayer in which the pump is a bellows worked by the -
trigger. The invention further re}ates to vent means for
permitting air to pass from the outside into the container to ~ -
ta e the place of the r ~ d li uid and e ualize internal air --
pressure with the outside.
2. Des ~ of R~ ~ Art ~nCl ~ In ~
The prior art include~ a large number of trigger sprayers in ~ `-
15~ which the pump means is a bellows. A nu~ber of these references
~ provide hinged triggers, each having a leg which engages and ~ -
,.~ .,.. ,:,...
~ ~ . ' ,, ' '`~
`
works a bellows pump when the trigger is pulled. Examples are ~ -~
- the U.S. patent 3,986,644 which issued October 19, 1976 to Grogan
et al; pater.t 4,138,038 ~hich issued February 6, 1979 to Grogan; ~ ;
U.S. patent 4,155,487 which issued May 22, 1979 to Blake; and
S patent 4,204,614 which issued May 27, 1980 to Reeve.
The need for appropriate venting means to permit the passage ~ -
of air from the outside to the inside of the container is also
the subject of patents, a number of which are in the name of
Tetsua Tada. In Tada patent 3,897,006, for instance, a probe
moves toward the container as the trigger is pulled and pokes
open a rubber sealing sleeve in a section of the sprayer housing.
Other showings of venting include Smith et al 3,973,700 wherein a
. . .: -
vent passage extends from the container up into the sprayer
.. -.-~
housing and ending in an opening to the atmosphere. The opening
-, .: . .. .
15 i9 closed off when the trigger is in retracted position. ~ -
Prior art includes showing of triggers which are hinged to a
hou~ing by means of a nlivingn hingc. See, for instance, U.S.
patent 4,199,083 which issued April 22, 1980 to LoMaglio. Also
in the past, doors for sealing the sprayer orifice have hinged to
(2-0~ 2
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the front of the sprayer housing as shown in the Tada patent ; -
-~,230,277.
. . ~.
The art is thus rep}eat with showings o various features of -
trigger sprayers and a listing of the pertinent art of which the
Applicant is aware appears on form PTO-1449, enciosed ;;~.-
herewith. ~
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SUMMARY OF T~ INVENTION ~ - -
: , . ~. .
The present invention contemplates an effective economical ~-
: ~ l0 trigger sprayer having a minimum nu ber of parts and a large -, ~
`~ ~ number of desirable features. In the various embodiments of the ~ -
invention disclose~ herein the t~igger sprayer housing encloses a - ~-
bellows pum for pu ping li uid up from the container on which it - . -
i8 mounted and out a suitable discharge orifice at the front of
15 ~ the housing. To the discharge end or front o the housing is
s-cured a~front component includlng an orifice plate to which is
hing d by ~living" hinges a sealing door for the orifice and a
trlgger lever and leg for working the bellows and openlng a vent
passage. The front component is integrally formed of molded
20~ ~pl~ K ic to give simple slngle piece including appropriately ;~
(2~D1) 3 ` ~ `
, : ,: . :
aligned elements. It includes integral fasteners for securing it
to the housing.
The invention also contemplates a vent passage which is
closed off by the same sealing door and another vent arrangement ~ -
operated by a leg integral with a trigger lever.
One embodiment of the invention is a hou~sing structured to
be mounted on the container and give the assembly a usually low
profile.
BRIEF D~SCRIPTTON OF THE DRAWINGS -~
10Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent -
from a review of the following specification and the accompanying -
drawings all of which disclose non-limiting embodiments of the
`invention. In the drawings~
Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a trigger sprayer embodying
the invention mounted on a container;
; Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view cut through
the center line of the housing and container;
Fig. 2a is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified gasket ~
and lower part~ -
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(2-0~) 4 ~
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Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the trigger
lever being squeezed to work the bellows pump and open the vent;
Fig. 4 is a fxont fragmentary elevational view of the
housing mounted on a container and prior to having its front
component joined to the housing;
Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the front -
component and the housing;
Fig. 6 is an exploded view showing various parts of the --
sprayer including some of the parts which attach the housing to a --
.:: .. .- ,:,.- ~
container, and the bellows;
Fig. 7 is a greatly enlarged exploded fragmentary section of ` -
the front of the housing showing the front end parts prior to
assembly;
Fig. 8 is an elevational view of a modified form of the
invention mounted on a container;
Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view cutting
through the center line of the housing and container of the ~-
modified form of the invention;
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Fig. 10 is a front fxagmentary elevational view of the
housiny of the modified form mounted on a container prior to
having its front component joined to the housing;
Pig. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing the front
component and the housing of the modified form and the vent and
orifice valving discs;
Pig. 12 is a perspective exploded view of the modified form
showing various parts of the housing including some of the parts
which attach the housing to a container, and the bellows;
Fig. 13 is a greatly enlarged exploded fragmentary section
of the modification showing the fxont of the housing assembly
showing the front end parts prior to assembly;
Fig. 14 is a center line sectional view comparable to Pigs.
2 and 9 but of a further modification of the invention featuring
different vent means for venting outside air into the container;
and
Pig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 14 but showing the trigger
drawn back to work the pump and open the vent.
(2-0~ 6
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DESCRIPTION ~F THB PREFERRED EMBODIM~
A complete dispenser embcdying the invention is shown in
Pig. 1 and generally designated 10. It comprises a container 12
having a threaded finish 14 (Fig. 2). Usually the container will
be blow-molded polyethylene. Other container shapes are, of
i .~ ' ' ., . :' !
course, envisioned ;
Screwed onto the container is the trigger sprayer assembly
16 which comprises a housing 18 and a screw cap 20 adapted to ~-
engage the threaded finish 14. A front end component 22 is ~-
secured to the front or discharge end of the housing.
The housing 18 is a plastic molded piece comprising side
: . :. .i:
walls 24, only one of which is shown in the sectional view (Pig.
2). Joining the side walls is a top wall 26 having a
longitudinal recess 28 having a floor 30 spaced below which is an
intermediate wall 32 running to the side walls 24, the walls 30 -
and 32 defining a horizontal passage 34 to the rear ~nd of which
is joined a perpendicular downward vertical product tube 36. The
opening in the lower end of tube 36 is enlarged to present a
downward annular shoulder which may be grooved to permit passage
of product through the tube even when the ball 75 (to be
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(2-01) 7
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described) is up. The intermediate wall 32 is formed
intermediat- the tube 36 and the discharge end of the housing -
with a large downward opening 38 communicating with passage 34.
Surrounding the opening is a downward rim 40 and outside it is an ~ ~ -
annular wall 42 having a reduced lower end presenting thereinside
a downward shoulder 44.
A resilient bowl-shaped bellows 46 (Fig. 7) is provided and
has an inward enlargement 48 around its mouth. The rim 40 is
deformed outward to clamp the enlargement 48 in position. An
outward rib 50 on the bellows fits against the shoulder 44 and
the lower end of wall 42 is staked in at 52 to secure the
bellows.
Integral with the housing and rearward of the bellows 46 is
the downward annular support wall 54 (Fig. 2) serrated at its
lower end. It concentrically circumposes the vertical tube 36.
:.
The wall 54 is formed with a longitudinal slot 56 from its lower
end facing the front o the housing. Inward of the wall 54 is a
short concentric annular seal stabilizing wall 58. -
A tubular support 60 or retainer is provided. It terminates
downwardly in an outward flange 62. The top wall o the cap 20
(2-OI) 8 `
is apertured to encircle the lower end of the tubular support 60.
The flange 6- in assembly with the container 12 is clamped by the
partial top wall o~ the cap 20 against the top of the finish 14.
The tubular support 60 or retainer has a primary tubular -
upward wall 64 concentric but of reduced diameter with respect to ;~
flange 62. Wall 64 telescopes inside the downward annular ;~
support wall 54 of the housing and has a longitudinal slot 65
from its upper end toward the front of the housing. Slot 65
aligns with the slot 56 in the wall 54. An outer concentric wall
66 is internally serrated, and in assembly the downward wall 54
slides inside the wall 66 and 54 and is held there by the
serrations.
The tubular support also has radial inward ribs 68 which
extend across to support a tubular coupling 70, the lower part 72
of which receives the customary dip tube 74, and the upper part
76 narrows and is received into the enlarged lower end of the
product tube 36 of the housing. The enlargement of the tube 36
provides an operating chamber for a check ball 74 which normally
seats on the top of the upper part 76 to prevent backflow of ~
product. ~ - -
(2-OI) 9 ~ ~ `
The ribs 68 permit between them axial passage of vent air.
Externally the lower part 72 i~ longitudinally slotted as at 73 ;~
and there is provided a sealing gasket 80 the perimeter of which
is sandwiched between the flange 62 and the top of the finish. ;
The central opening in the gasket closely hugs the lower part 72.
Vent air, when the assembly is vented, can pass between the ribs
68 and through the slots between the lower part 72 and the gasket
80.
Alternatively the ribs 68 are replaced by a wall (not shown)-
radially across the structure. The wall may have a single
aperture preferably at a position remote from the trigger 150 so
that when the sprayer is tipped forward, product will not find -
its way easily to the aperture and leak out during venting. Fig.
2a shows a modified lower part 72 and gasket 80 in which the hole
in the gasket may be triangular or other shape to permit venting
without permitting liquid product to easily find ltS way out.
A vent seal 82 is provided and formed with an outward ~ -
peripheral outward flange 84 at its upper end (Fig. 6). The ;~
seal, which may be made of a resilient elastic material, has a `~
' ' ~ '' 'i' " ','~ 'I :'
tubular body with an outward lip 86 at its lower end adapted to ~ ~ ~
(2-OI) 10 `
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engage about the inside of the wall 64 below the slot 65. ~he
seal i9 also formed with a laterally outward nose 88 which has a ' ` ' ~
beveled-off end so tAat its upper end extends out from the body ,'~ ~'
of the seal farther than the upper end.
In assembly the vent seal 82 is inserted into the wall 64
(Fig. 2) and receives stabilizing wall 58. In further,assembly
as described already, the wall 54 is brought down over the wall
64. Serrations as shown help hold the parts together. The slots '~
. : ~
56 and 65 in walls 54 and 64 are aligned and provide ample
passage of the radial nose 88. Nose 88 extends out beyond the
wall of the boss 50 as shown in Fig. 2. The intermediate wall 32
clamps the seal flange 84 against the top of the wall 64.
The housing is formed with a front discharge end wall 104. ~`
The wall 104 (Fig. 3, Fig. 4) is formed with a flat vertical
front face, and an annular groove or socket 106 is fonmed about ,~
the opening 108 where the passage 34 emerges in the face. The ~`
:
~ opening 108 is enlarged at the front end to present an annular -~
: . - ,
shoulder 110. Above the enlargement there is formed a circular
V-shaped groove 112 which defines a round stud 114 in the front '~
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~20~ wa}l 104 inside the annular socket 106. ';
(2~D1) ll
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The annular groove 106 is undercut (Fig. 7) for the purpose
of securing to the discharge end tl,e front end component 22.
Component 22 comprises the orifice plate 120 formed with an -~
integral ring 122 on its rear face. The ring slopes slightly
toward its axis and into the groove 106. Within the ring the
rear face of the plate 120 is formed with a rearward stud 124
aligned with the opening 108. -
In assembly a resilient valve disc 126 (Figs. 5,7) is
disposed against the shoulder 110. The front end component 22 is
maneuvered so that ring 122 is inserted into the annular groove
106. When the rim of the ring 122 snaps into the undercut in the
: -
annular groove 106, and the plate 120 is thereby held tight
against the flat front end 104 of the housing. The stud 124 -~
sandwiches the disc 126 between it and the shoulder 110 to form a
IS ¢heck valve limiting flow of liquid backward through the tube 34.
The plate 120 is additionally formed with an hour-glass- `~
shaped orifice 130 (Fig. 7) and the plate is provided with a
rearward cup-shaped wall 132 which, in assembly, fits about the
-: ~
stud 114 with its walls received into and plugging the annular V~
;20 shaped groove. When the plate 120 is in place, thè wall 132 and
(2-OI) 12 ~-
~ ' ' '
the conical rear surface adjacent orifice 130 forms a swirl ; ~-
chamber 131 for discharging product. Entrance to the chamber is
through the interruption 132a in wall 132 which is accessible to
the product bécause the frontal area of the front 104 inside the ~;~
S socket 106 is set back as at 134 (Fig. 7).
Comprising component 22 the plate 120 has door 133 attached
to it by means of an integral "living" hinge 134. As shown, the -
front of the plate 120 is formed with forwardly projecting sides ~ -
136 (only one shown in Fig. 7) to form a door-receiving recess
; lO and retainer. m e top of the recess is beveled as at 138 and the
.
door is complimentary shaped as at 140. Further, the door is ~ ;~
formed with a sealing bump 142 and a hold-open head 144.
Thus, the door 133 has two extreme positions. In one the
door 133 may be hinged all the way back against the top wall 26
IS~ (Fig. 2) so that the head 144 snaps into recess 28 thereby
holding the door iL the open position. In the other, the door
133 may be brought down so that it wedges or snaps between the ;~
side~walls 136 in the door-receiving recess. The sealing bump 142
in this position ¢loses the orifice 130 and seals it. `
(2-0~ l3 - `
A third component of the integrally molded front component
22 is, of course, the trigger lever 15~ (Fig. 2). The lever is ;~
connected to the orifice plate 120 by a second "living~ hinge
152. The lever 150 is formed on its rearward side with a rigid
unitary leg 154. The leg is formed with an upper surface which
engages the bottom of the bellows 46.
The leg 154 extends rearward and terminates in a shoe 156
which includes an outward rear sur~ace. This extension of the
leg serves two functions. It may engage the top of the cap 20
and provides a stop, precluding further outward movement of the
lever; that is, it prevents further clockwise rotation of the
lever about the hinge 152 much beyond that shown in Fig. 2. This
protects the hinge 152 against overstress. Secondly, the shoe ;
156, when the lever 150 is squeezed against the container 12,
will swing up to engage and depress the nose 88 (Fig. 3). This .
will distort the seal 82 pushing its lip 86 away from engagement ;~
with the inside of the wall 64 and permit air to vent inside wall
64, through the aperture 78 slots in lower part 72 and into the
container 12.
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(2-OI) 14 ~ -~
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The operation of the lever has already been partly
explained, namely to open the vent to permit air to the
container. The more important and well-known purpose of the
lever 150 is accomplished as its leg 154 pushes upward on the
bottom of the bellows 46 (Fiy. 3). This reduces the volume in
the bellows and, accordingly, increases pressure in the passage
34 and tube 36. -
Because the check valve 75 is seated on the top of upper
part 76, there can be no downward escape of pressurized liquid. ~ ~ ;
Thus, the liquid moves past the check disc 126, flexing its
perimeter forward. The exiting liquid moves from the enlargement ~ ;
of the opening 108 through the interruption 132a and tangentially ~ ~
into the swirl chamber 131 and, swirling ever faster, out the ~ ;
orifice 130 in the form of a spray.
Toward the end of this squeezing stroke of the lever 150 the
shoe 156 on the end of the leg 154 depresses nose 88 distorting
the seal 82 as described to permit air to vent past the lips 86.
When the lever 150 is subsequently released, the resilienceof the bellows 46 restores it to its Fig. 2 shape enlarging the
; 20 volume of the bellows and drawing liquid up the tube 36. This
(2-OI) l5
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: :`
induces the raising of the check ball 75 (not shown in raising
position), drawing liquid up from the container 12. Liquid must
be drawn up because the fronsal valve disc 126 blocks rearward ~-
flow from the frontal area of the housing.
S Repetition of the squeezing of the lever 150 toward the -~ -
container will result in a plurality of successive emissions of ~ "
liquid product out the orifice 130. The orifice can be
restructured if desired so that the emissions are in the form of
a foam or stream. `
In the modification disclosed in Figs 8-13 the integrally
;~ molded front assembly and other features find correspondence with
~he preferred embodiment discussed above. To point out the parts
of the embodiment which are similar to the earlier version, the
primed form of a reference number is used in the modification to
designate similar elements identified by the same number in the
preferred embodiment.
Thus the dispenser 10' in the Figc. 8^13 embodiment ~-
comprises the container 12~ having the threaded finish 14~ to
which is secured the trigger sprayer 16'.
2-OI) 16
" " ,, ,~ ,",, ,~ " ,~ " " ~ "~
The sprayer 16' comprises a housing 18' secured to the
finish by a threaded cap 20'. The integrally molded front
component 22' is secured to the discharge or front end Gf the
housing 18'. As shown in Fig. 8, the housing has side wall
portions 24' which are notched out as at 200 to make portions of
the cap 20' accessible for turning in this low-profile version.
The housing 18' (Fig. 9) internally presents an integral top -~
wall 26' with lower portion 30', intermediate wall 202 and lower
wall 32'. The intermediate wall 202 and lower wall 32' between
:: - - ~:,. ,-.- .
them form a discharge passage 34' which has a perpendicular ~ ~;
enlarged downward extenæion 36'. The upper wall 30' and the
intermediate wall 202 between them form a vent passage 204 which
also extendæ perpendicularly downward in tube 206 which, as shown
in Fig. 9, communicates with a downward annular wall 208
lS concentric with and outward from the downward extension 36'.
.:
A cup-shaped mounting piece 210 i~ fitted onto the lower end
of the annular wall 208. To facilitate this connection, the
lower end of the wall 208 may have an outward peripheral nib as
shown and the inside surface of the cup-shaped piece 210 may have
an undercut as shown, to achieve a snap-type installation.
(2-OI) 17
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~: :
The cup-shaped piece 210 h~ ~n ou~ard L~n~e 212 ~bout it~
mouth. This flange sits on the top of the finisn 14' and is
sealingly clamped thereagainst by the partial top wall of the cap
20~ to support the housing on the container. The portion of the
piece 210 below the flange depends into the neck of the - -
container.
The cup-shaped mounting piece 210 is formed with a central ; ;
tubular spool or coupling, the upper part 76' of which fits into
and mates with the downward extension 36'. These parts may carry
nibs and undercuts for snap installation as with the piece 210
and wall 208. Intermediate its ends the coupling 70' is formed
with a reduced internal diameter to define a seat 96'. Check
ball 75' normally sits on the seat in the upper part 76' and `~
prevents backflow. The ball check may rise with the discharge
IS flow, its upward travel being stopped by the inward nibs as shown ~ ~
in the coupling and the downward stop 218 on the wall 202. ~-
The lower part 72~ of the coupling snugly receives and
supports the upper end of the dip tube 7i'. Offset from the
coupling the bottom wall of the cup-shaped piece 210 is apertured
20~ in a vent opening as at 220.
(2-O~ l8 ~ ~`
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:~ : .-. -
The lower wall 32~ is formed intermediate the tube 36' and
the discharge end of the housing with a large downward opening
38' (Fig. 13) communicating with passage 34'. Surrounding the
opening is a downward rim 40' and outside it is a concentric
annular wall 42'.
A resilient bowl-shaped bellows 46' is provided and is
disposed snugly about the rim 40'. An outward rib on the bowl~
, ~
shaped bellows fits into an annular groove in the annular wall
42'. A downward ring 224 is formed centrally in the bottom of
the bowl-shaped bellows 46' and is undercut.
The housing is formed with a front discharge end wall 104'.
. .
The wall 104' (Figs 10, 13) is formed with a flat vertical front
face, and an annular groove 106' is formed about the opening
where the passage 34' emerges in the face. The opening is
enlarged at recess 108~ to present an annular shoulder 110'. The
~; side wall of the recess 108' join with a pair of channels
defining ducts 226 (Fig. 10) which extend outward and downward ~ ~`
and thence inward to join tangentially a cylindrical recess
.
defining a breakup or ~wirl chamber 228.
(2-0l) I9 ;~
. ;. ' - '
. :~
The annular groove 106' is undercut (Fig. 13) for the
purpose of securing to the discharge end the front end component
22~. Assembly 22~ comprises the orifice plate 120'. The plate
i8 ormed with an integral ring 122' on its rear face. The ring
S has a peripheral outward rib about its distal end. Within the -~
ring the rear face of the plate 120' is formed with a rearward
stud 124' aligned with the opening 108'.
The plate 120~ in the modification is also provided with an
integral vent nipple 230. The nipple is formed with an axial
passage which has a narrow section intermediate its ends. The
nipple extends rearward beyond the ring 122'. The ront end of
the axial passage through nipple 230 may be in the shape of a
socket for reasons which will appear.
The vent passage 204 emerges in the front face in an
enlarged opening 232 which, in its rear face, is angled as shown.
-- ~ ': :
A vent check disc 234 is provided.
In assembly, a resilient discharge check valve disc 126'
(Fig. 13) is disposed against the shoulde 110'. Resilient vent ; :~ ;
check disc 234 is disposed against the rear face opening 232.
The front component 22' is maneuvered so that ring 122' is
(2-OI) 20
,,`.'` ;''
inserted into the annular groove 106 and the nipple fits into
opening 232. When the ring 122' snaps into the undercu~ in the
annular groove 106~, and the plate is thereby held tight against
the end 104', the stud 124' sandwiches the disc 126' between it
S and the shoulder 110~ to form a check valve limiting a flow of
liquid backward through the tube 34'. Similarly the vent nipple
230 squeezes a lower portlon of the check disc 234 against the ;~
bottom of the angled rear face of opening 232.
The plate 120' is additionally formed with an hour-glass~
shaped orifice 130~ which is aligned with the swirl chamber 228
previously described. The plate 120~, when in place, forms the
front walls of the enlarged opening 108', ducts 226' and
chamber 228'.
The plate 120~ has door 133' attached to it by means of an
integral "living" hinge 134'. As shown, the front end of the
plate 120' is formed with projecting sides 136' (only one shown
in Fig. 13) to form a door-receiving recess. The top of the .
recess is beveled as at 138~ and the door-is complimentary shaped ;~
as at 140'. Further, the door is formed with a sealing bump 142'
~.
on the front and a vent-closing head 240 which snaps into the
. . . ' . - ,
(2-OI) 21
~ '.. ' ''`,`'.'`" ';
'
socket in the front of nipple 230 when the door is in closed
position. The door 133' has spaced hold-open heads 144' on its
rear face.
Thus, the door 133' has two extreme positions. In one, the
door 133' may be hinged folded all the way back against the top
of the housing so that the head 144' snap into a recesses 28' in `~
the housing (Fig. 11). This holds the door in the open position. ~
In the other, the door 133' may be brought down so that it wedges ~;
between the side walls 136' in the door-receiving recess and the
head 240 snaps into the socket in the front end of the passage
through nipple 230. The sealing bump 142' in this position
closes the discharge orifice 130' and seals it.
A third element of the integrally molded front end component
22' is, of course, the trigger lever 150'. The lever is
15 connected to the plate 120' by a second "living" hinge 152'. The -- -
lever lS0' i8 formed on its rearward side with a rigid unitary
. leg 154'. The leg is formed with a mushrpom-shaped head 154a'
which snaps into the undercut ring 224 to secure them together.
The purpose of the lever 150' is accomplished as its leg
154' pughes upward on the bottom of the bellows 46l as the lever - `
(2-OI) 22 . ~ ~`
is drawn inward. This reduces the volume in the bellows and,
accordingly, increases pressure in the passage 34' and tube 36~
secause the check valve 75' is seated on its seat 96', there
can be no downward escape of pressurized liquid. The liquid
moves past the check disc 126~, flexing its perimeter forward.
The exiting liquid moves from the enlargement 108' through the ~ ~
duct arms 112' and tangentally into the swirl chamber 228' and, - ~ ;
swirling ever faster, out the central orifice 130' in the form of ~
a spray. ~ -
When the lever 150' is subsequently released, the resilience
of the bellows 46' restores it to its Fig. 9 position, the
bellows enlarging its volume and drawing liquid up the tube 36'.
This induces the raising of the check ball 75' (not shown in
raised position). Liquid must be drawn up the tube 36' coupling
lS 70' and dip tube 74' because the frontal valve disc 126' blocks
rearward flow from the frontal area of the housing.
Repetition of the squeezing of the lever 150' toward the
container will result in a plurality of successive emissions of
liquid product out the orifice 130'. The orifice can be
,. :, .: ~. .
restructured if desired so that the emissions are in the form of
., ,,~
(2-OI) 23 ~
a foam or stream. vent air will be drawn past the check 234
(Fig. 13) as it pivots rearward and through passages 204, tubes
206 and 208 and opening 220 to equalize inside of the container
with the outside.
Second Modification
In the second modification disclosed in Figs. 14 and 15 many
of the partq find correspondence in parts of the earlier
embodiments. To emphasize to this, the double primed (n) form of
a reference numeral is applied to a part which corresponds to the ;~
parts identified by the same reference numeral in the earlier
embodiments, or the single primed form (') thereof. ~ -~
Thus, the container 12~ has secured to its threaded finish
14" a cap 20". The cap clamps under its partial top wall an -
: : . :. :, ~
outward flange 62" of a collar 310. The collar is formed with a
as central tubular coupling having an upper part ~6" and lower part
72" and an upstanding wall 312 which circumposes the coupling.
Toward the discharge end and offset from the coupling the collar
is formed with a vent opening 314 extending vertically there~
through. A check flap 315 is clamped between the underside of
the collar 310 and the finish 14n and nonmally covers the vent
(2-OI) 24 -~
. : :: ,-- - ~ ,-: -:.
-: ::: .:
314. About the upper end of the opening 314 the collar is formed
with a beveled lead-in 316. ~ :
The housing 18" is integrally formed within it with a molded ~:
tubular passage 34", 30~ off of which the bellows pump 46" is ~ :
S mounted. The front end component 22" is provided with a plate
120", a hinged door 132" and a hinged trigger 150". An inverted
cup-shaped element 320 surrounds the tube 36", is integral with
the housing 18" and is joined to the upward annular wall 312. A
portion of the inverted cup-shaped element 320 toward the front ` --
end is cut away as at 322 and the leg 154" extends rearward
beyond its engagement with the bellows 46" to include an
extension 324 which terminates in a downward stopper 326 to
selectively plug opening 314.
A check ball arrangement 75" is provided as in earlier:~
embodiments as is the check disc 126" and a connecting passage
(not shown) to orifice 130" in plate 120". :~`
In Opeation, when the lever 150" is drawn toward the
-: :-. :: -:
container 12" (dotted lines in Fig. 15), the extension 324 lifts
.. :.. ~:, -
the plug 326 from the vent opening 314 to permit air to pass`;i
~; :20 through the opening and past the flexible check flap 315 which
(2-0~ 25
" '''.~'`'`, .' `' ,'
~, .
flex to permit air passage. When the lever 150" is allowed to
return to the position shown in Fig. 14, the vent is se~led ;
closed. ~
It can be seen that all the embodiments disclose hereabove ~;
S have the benefit of the integral front assembly comprising the
plate, the hinged door and the hinged lever. Not only is such an
arrangement economical, it provides the sure alignment of the
trigger and the vent arm with the bellows and vent means.
Further, the construction enhances the appearance of the unit
wherein the vent action is hidden behind the walls in the
housing, and checks prevent leakage if the container is upset.
Other features discussed above enhance the value of the various ---
embodiments.
Variations in the invention are possible without departing ` ;: ~-
from the spirit of the invention. Thus, while the invention has - - -
been shown in only a few embodiments, it is not so limited but is
of a scope defined by the following claim language which may be .-
broadened by an extension of the right to exclude others from
making or using the invention as is appropriate under the
doctrine of eq~ivalents. ~ ~ -
- ,
(2-0[) 26
~. .,
